NVR for 4x IP cameras + 2x intercoms

[pms]

Hi,

I run 4 x IP cameras (T54IR-ZE-S3) and two 2N IP Verso 2.0 intercoms. So a total of 6 video streams which I would like to record. Now I am looking for a storage option.
I am thinking of a Dahua NVR but not sure if this would serve my needs:

• No fanzy AI on the NVR needed
• I assume 24/7 recording not needed but only event triggered should be ok
• storage duration up to 30 days
• compatible with those 6 streams
• 2 disks for integrated backup

Any suggestions?

Max

 

[steve1225]

Actual Dahua NVRs are 5xxx-EI and 4xxx-EI...
if we talk about 2HDD and 16 channels then: 5216-EI or 4216-EI...
POE versions have -16P suffix...

For both You need to install RTSP fix, to add RTSP camera option to support non Dahua intercoms as cameras...

Index of /Firmware/Rejestratory/NVR/RTSP fix

You must check does Your intercom supports RTSP (or ONVIF)?

Andy have in his shop many 5xxx-EI models (all -AI, -2AI, -4AI) with different channel / drives / poe configurations..

Network Video Recorder | EmpireTech

EmpireTech has a range of recorders from the Lite Series (4CH/unit) for smaller uses, the Pro Series (optimal for mid-to-large projects) to the Ultra Series (256CH/unit) for expansive projects, plus cost-effective options.

empiretech01.com

or you can buy any 4xxx-ei or 5xxx-ei model from any shop in Europe..
don't buy 8 channel version, price difference to 16-channel one is very small and You will have room to grow..

ps. those 2N IP Verso 2.0 intercoms are not cheap. You can look at Dahua alternative for much smaller money...
those 2 models have very good 2MPx image sensor and color night performance with some street light.

VTO2201F-P-S2 - Dahua International

VTO2201F-P-S2

www.dahuasecurity.com

or modular alternative (You can put 2-3 modules like in 2N):

2-Wire IP - Dahua International

2-Wire IP

www.dahuasecurity.com

there is a lot of matching modules:

VTO4202FB-MX Series - Dahua International

VTO4202FB-MX Series

www.dahuasecurity.com

and accessories:

VTO4202FB-P1 - Dahua International

VTO4202FB-P1

www.dahuasecurity.com

You have also selection of internal monitors (Linux based or with Android):

IP Series - Dahua International

IP Series

www.dahuasecurity.com

 

[wittaj]

As good as the AI and motion detection or triggered event can be, sometimes things are missed.

Many, if not most here, prefer continuous recording so we don't miss anything.

While having lots of days/months sounds great, the reality of it is unless it was something catastrophic (which you would have known about sooner anyway), most are not going to start scrubbing video for something that may have happened a few weeks or months ago.

By spending time to dial in the alerts and a frequent peek at what is going on, you would have noticed something around your property within days. I literally every morning in under 30 seconds can scrub what happened the night before and see if anything happened I need to look at further. This is for things off my property. I will know immediately with an alert of a person or car is on my property.

If a neighbor comes up to me and says "sometime around 2 weeks ago someone backed into my car, can you see if you caught it?" You will find that even with the best scrubbing this is a monumental task. Unless they can narrow down the day/time window or you can visually see the damage on your video that you can start looking at the same time everyday until you see the damage and then do an iterative process to narrow down when it was, most of us are not going to scour it.

There are some other considerations or law reasons for businesses that may need longer, but for the average homeowner, the reality that we are going to scrub thru months of video is slim. I would rather have higher quality and 24/7 for a shorter duration than longer duration but lower quality and potentially missed video. But that doesn't mean I run continuous mainstream either. I run substream until triggered and then mainstream. Anything of interest I export out.

So if you need 30 days of storage because of traveling or some law, then simply get larger storage HDDs to install in the NVR. Otherwise consider 24/7 with enough storage for the longest duration and a few days of when you wouldn't be home.

Thread 'Why I like Continuous Recording (aka 24/7)'

Aug 23, 2020

So a guy came to the door yesterday, and while my wife did not open the door, it kind of spooked her out. She said he seem suspicious saying he found a driver's license on the lawn and wanted to know if it belonged to her. So when I got back from the range, I checked out the cams. This is one reason that continuously recording video, not just when triggered, is important. It helped us to understand the situation.

• samplenhold
• Replies: 27
• Forum: Camera Captures

• 

 

[pms]

@wittaj: Ok, thanks for your hints. Only reason for "30 days" is indeed travelling. Background of "no 24/7" was my assumption that it would be more efficient to check single snippets instead of checking long sequences wiht >99% happening nothing.
I might come back to you on "I run substream until triggered and then mainstream. Anything of interest I export out."

@steve1225 Thanks a lot for your explanations! Both RTSP and ONVIF are supported by the intercom. And the 2N IP Verso 2.0 are already in place - so here I will not change.
I have enough PoE ports available at my switch - where the cameras are already connected to. Therefore, I understand I do not need the PoE version of the NVR.

So based on your feedback, I understand that this one from Andy (or for slightly less money and still 2 free channels this 8-ch variant) might be the right choice. And this is the 5xxx, right? Not sure what the difference between 4xxx and 5xxx is, e.g. compared to this one from Dahua webpage is. Looks slightly different on the backside. But from a technical point of view?

AI vs 2AI seems also not of relevance for me when I read the descriptions.

So overall, with currently 6 cameras in place and no plan to increase this number, I tend to the 8-ch variant. Or do you disagree with this choice?

 

[wittaj]

Even with recording 24/7, you get timeline "ticks" of when the activity happened.

@bigredfish has shared this image before and allows for easy scrubbing through of events.

 

[steve1225]

@steve1225 Thanks a lot for your explanations! Both RTSP and ONVIF are supported by the intercom. And the 2N IP Verso 2.0 are already in place - so here I will not change.
I have enough PoE ports available at my switch - where the cameras are already connected to. Therefore, I understand I do not need the PoE version of the NVR.

Yes, you can use non-POE version...
in this scenario You can put NVR somewhere near of any TV or monitor.
NVR will display live view from all cams/intercoms over HDMI - available by simple button press on tv remote control.

So based on your feedback, I understand that this one from Andy (or for slightly less money and still 2 free channels this 8-ch variant) might be the right choice. And this is the 5xxx, right? Not sure what the difference between 4xxx and 5xxx is, e.g. compared to this one from Dahua webpage is. Looks slightly different on the backside. But from a technical point of view?

yes.. this 8ch version is 5xxx-EI...
but for 30$ more You have identical 16ch version:

EmpireTech NVR16CH-AI 16 Channels 1U 2HDD Network Video Recorder

Smart H.265+/H.265/Smart H.264+/H.264/MJPEG decoding format. 32-channel 1080p self-adaptive decoding capability. Max. 384 Mbps incoming/recording/outgoing bandwidth. AI by recorder: 2-channel face detection and recognition, 4-channel perimeter protection, and 8-channel SMD Plus. AI by camera...

empiretech01.com

5xxx-EI have 2x bandwidth, 2x decoding limits and 2x AI power in comparison to 4xxx-EI..
it supports more advanced AI features from 54IR cams - acupick & video meta data...
at the end of post I put screen shots what full video meta data on 54IR with proper optic zoom + 5xxx-EI NVR can do..

AI vs 2AI seems also not of relevance for me when I read the descriptions.

they are the same..

So overall, with currently 6 cameras in place and no plan to increase this number, I tend to the 8-ch variant. Or do you disagree with this choice?

one of the main rules of CCTV - always buy 2x more powerful NVR as You think you need.
You will use NVR interface and mobile/desktop apps connected to NVR - not cameras..
Also very often NVR is the way how new features can be added to older cameras..

After installing and use cameras you will know is 4 cams enough? Normally not, even for smaller houses
You bought two latest premium 2N intercoms, so I think it isn't small

vehicle / face / human / non motor search on 5xxx-EI based on data from 54IR cams (video meta data mode):

 

[pms]

Please allow me two more questions, @steve1225:
Is "always buy 2x more powerful NVR as You think you need." rather a recommendation in favor of the 5xxx over the 4xxx or does it (also) apply for the number of channels?
"You will use NVR interface and mobile/desktop apps connected to NVR - not cameras.." implies that not only the number of cameras impacts the number of channels but also the number of connected viewing devices/apps. Do I understand you right? I was not aware of this and assumed the number of needed channels is only affected by the number of connected cameras.

 

[steve1225]

Please allow me two more questions, @steve1225:
Is "always buy 2x more powerful NVR as You think you need." rather a recommendation in favor of the 5xxx over the 4xxx or does it (also) apply for the number of channels?
"You will use NVR interface and mobile/desktop apps connected to NVR - not cameras.." implies that not only the number of cameras impacts the number of channels but also the number of connected viewing devices/apps. Do I understand you right? I was not aware of this and assumed the number of needed channels is only affected by the number of connected cameras.

yes...
I read hundreds post from people who did that mistake and bought to small NVR..
How to add ninth camera to my NVR when I have 8 channels?

price difference between 8/16/32 channels are small (they are simply licenses loaded into NVR flash in case of non-POE version), but cost buying another bigger NVR is much bigger..
And as I wrote 4 cameras in most cases is not enough..
Classic CCTV installation for normal not too big house in simple shape which I do is 2 overview 90 degree cams in front (view from left/right end of house), 2 on sides (1 per side), 2 on back (left/right), 1-2 cams with strong optic zoom which are directed to entrances/gateways/street (to capture big detailed people faces / car plates) and intercom.. sometimes one-two cams inside house (like garage, where owners can remotely open gate to allow delivery couriers to put some package or main entrance/corridor)..

Overview cams do overview - so wide 90-110 degree Field of View..
But someone who stand 10-20 meters from camera, don't have enough details in recorded footage to Identify (if you know that person, you will probably recognize it, but if someone new for You footage from overview camera at that distance will be not enough).

So for that I (as most other people here on the forum) use also cams with strong OPTICAL zoom and small Field of View (15-45 degrees) which are directed into entrances/gateways/streets.. like 5442-Z4E (54IR-Z4) which have 3-9x optical zoom..
to give possibility to identify intruder, when something happened.

NVR is center of each CCTV system.. You will use it for minimum next 5 years, sometimes even 10 (yes 10 year old CCTV installations are normal thing)..
it's always worth having it scaled up - both in terms of power (higher line) and in terms of the number of channels.
It's also worth taking the main and latest lines, where the chance of receiving firmware upgrades with new features and security updates for the next years is the greatest.

 

[chunkypigs72]

yes...
I read hundreds post from people who did that mistake and bought to small NVR..
How to add ninth camera to my NVR when I have 8 channels?

price difference between 8/16/32 channels are small (they are simply licenses loaded into NVR flash in case of non-POE version), but cost buying another bigger NVR is much bigger..
And as I wrote 4 cameras in most cases is not enough..
Classic CCTV installation for normal not too big house in simple shape which I do is 2 overview 90 degree cams in front (view from left/right end of house), 2 on sides (1 per side), 2 on back (left/right), 1-2 cams with strong optic zoom which are directed to entrances/gateways/street (to capture big detailed people faces / car plates) and intercom.. sometimes one-two cams inside house (like garage, where owners can remotely open gate to allow delivery couriers to put some package or main entrance/corridor)..

Overview cams do overview - so wide 90-110 degree Field of View..
But someone who stand 10-20 meters from camera, don't have enough details in recorded footage to Identify (if you know that person, you will probably recognize it, but if someone new for You footage from overview camera at that distance will be not enough).

So for that I (as most other people here on the forum) use also cams with strong OPTICAL zoom and small Field of View (15-45 degrees) which are directed into entrances/gateways/streets.. like 5442-Z4E (54IR-Z4) which have 3-9x optical zoom..
to give possibility to identify intruder, when something happened.

NVR is center of each CCTV system.. You will use it for minimum next 5 years, sometimes even 10 (yes 10 year old CCTV installations are normal thing)..
it's always worth having it scaled up - both in terms of power (higher line) and in terms of the number of channels.
It's also worth taking the main and latest lines Adjust Full-Screen Ratio In Alight Motion, where the chance of receiving firmware upgrades with new features and security updates for the next years is the greatest.

Great and informative post